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With weeks still to go before Axacon, the long-awaited Atlanta convention for Axanar fans, OWC Studios head Alec Peters revealed the event is likely a big money-loser.

After many people told him the entry price was too high, Peters announced September 26, 2018, tickets were being slashed by 41 percent, hoping to counter sluggish sales.

UPDATE In an October 24 blog post, Peters revealed “we have sold a couple dozen [Axacon tickets] so far.” Despite his expected loss of thousands of dollars to stage the event, Peters justified the con as a “launching point for serious pre-production … so [the production team] can all get on the same page and get fired up for shooting”; “a celebration of the Star Trek that we all love and the fans who have supported us”; and a means to “create content for our website, our Blu-rays and to promote what is coming.”1)

Meanwhile, Axanar raced to pull together the event, pleading with fans to volunteer their time, and slashing ticket prices after initially charging what some believed was a high cost for attending the three-day event in Atlanta.

Alec Peters

Expected $5,000 Loss

In an interview posted September 24, 2018, on the Fan Film Factor blog, Peters admitted Axacon won’t come close to paying for itself:

Honestly, I expect to lose about $5,000 on Axacon. And that is okay. But I don’t think there is any way we make money.2)

Sluggish Sales Spur Discount

Peters did not explain to Fan Film Factor whether the expected loss was due to slow sales of tickets some had complained were exorbitantly priced, higher than expected expenses or some combination of both.

Axacon’s entry originally required attendees to pay to get into both SphinxCon and Axacon, a minimum $91 cost with ticket processing fees.

However, just days after AxaMonitor compared Axacon’s price with other conventions, Peters admitted:

Feedback was most Axanar fans didn’t want to go to SphinxCon, and while I’m a huge Honor Harrington fan [the book series honored by SphinxCon], we can’t expect everyone to be.3)

Tickets now range from $54-82 instead of $91-129, including ticket processing fees.

Convention Schedule

AxaMonitor obtained an advance copy of the Axacon schedule. While not finalized, this schedule gives a glimpse of what organizers, led by OWC Studios head Alec Peters, generally hoped to offer attendees at the upcoming gathering.

SphinxCon Axacon was designed as a “con within a con,” hosted by SphinxCon; some Axacon events are open to SphinxCon attendees.

Location While Axacon is officially housed at SphinxCon’s convention hotel, the airport Crowne Plaza, some events (as noted below) are scheduled to be held more than 42 miles away at OWC Studios in Lawrenceville, Ga.

Panel Descriptions

Full descriptions of all the panels offered at SphinxCon and Axacon are available at the SphinxCon website.

Cost

Axacon’s cost had been criticized by some Axanar supporters as high for such a small, three-day convention, ranging from $91 to $129; attendees were required to purchase admission to SphinxCon. They were also required to find their own transportation for the 80-mile roundtrip to OWC Studios outside Atlanta.

At the new discounted Axacon price, SphinxCon was to receive $25 from each Axanar entry — half its original take. Axacon attendees who want access to any SphinxCon sessions would now have to pay extra.

Price Comparisons

DragonCon $85-95
By comparison, Atlanta’s immense five-day Dragon*Con, featuring dozens of well-known guests from many genre films and TV — especially Star Trek — costs a minimum $85, if purchased a year in advance. Closer to the event, admission is $95.

Star Trek Las Vegas $173-$1000
The official Star Trek convention, a five-day star-studded annual event, costs a bare minimum $300 if tickets are purchased on a daily basis, though shortly before the con tickets can be discounted as low as $173 for five days’ admission; daily admission ranges from $50-75. Premium packages go for about $1,000.

BRIDGE PANELS Volunteers are working against a November 2 deadline to complete the Axanar bridge set, featuring artwork like this. Click to view full size.Images/Axanar Productions

Treklanta $45-60
This local Star Trek convention also in Atlanta, and like Axacon also three days, costs $45 in advance, $60 at the door. Attracting more than 300 attendees a year, it offers many more celebrity guests than Axacon for less than half the admission price.4)

AXANAR VOLUNTEER Dana Wagner works to complete the Ares bridge set in time for Axacon. Image/Fan Film Factor

Bridge status

Despite volunteers’ efforts to complete the U.S.S. Ares bridge set, Peters told Fan Film Factor it would not be finished in time, but it would be “close. Good enough for Axacon.”5)

Despite his locked script Peters told Fan Film Factor he has not yet determined if the set will even appear in the two Axanar short films he says is coming in 2019. He said completing the set has cost him personally several thousand dollars.

Con Volunteers

Meanwhile, Peters pleaded with supporters to help to pull off the convention, with no discount for volunteering:

“I need you sounding off if you will be attending Axacon. I will ask each of you to volunteer 2-3 hours a day. I can’t give away any free passes as SphinxCon is not giving me any, and I am putting in a ton of my own money to make this happen.”6)

SphinxCon chairman Dave Weiner explained no SphinxCon volunteers, including organizers, are getting free admission to their own convention.

Guests' Admission

Convention guests, such as actors J.G. Hertzler and Gary Graham, are paid to appear. Guests such as pro-Axanar fan film blogger Jonathan Lane and Axanar podcaster Keith Sedor do not have to pay to attend.

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